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WASHINGTON — The disabled Carnival cruise ship has docked, but the tale of its wretched odyssey
back to land has made its way to Capitol Hill.

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee, fired off a letter yesterday asking the Coast Guard commandant to brief
his panel on its investigation into the cruise ship Triumph.

“Horrified” was how Rockefeller described his response to the accounts of “unbearable living
conditions aboard the ship.”

Rep. John Garamendi of California, the top Democrat on the House subcommittee overseeing
maritime transportation, said he also is eager to examine the results of an investigation by the
Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., said the problems “raise concerns that these enormous ships are not
properly prepared for emergency situations.”

The crippled cruise ship, carrying 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew members, was tugged into port
late Thursday night after losing power Sunday. Miserable conditions soon developed with urine and
feces backing up and spilling into rooms and hallways, spoiled food, long lines to use the few
working bathrooms and rooms that were too hot or too cold.

Rockefeller asked the Coast Guard to report how much it spent responding to the disabled ship,
which was towed to Mobile, Ala., and a similar 2010 incident involving another Carnival cruise
ship, which was towed to San Diego after an onboard fire.He asked the Coast Guard whether it will
seek reimbursement from the cruise-ship company for its costs.